LANSING, MI -- Police here arrested three teenagers Thursday morning after they allegedly took a gun into Lansing Everett High School.

Lansing police public information officer Robert Merritt said a resident near Everett High School called police about 9:30 a.m. The witness said three men had walked by, putting what appeared to be a handgun into a backpack, then walking toward the school.

Police, including a resource office at Everett High School, responded within six minutes, Merritt said. Officers found the three suspects outside, but they fled and were able to gain access to the school. The building was locked down, but a student let the trio inside.

Officers followed the three into the building, quickly locating and apprehending them, Merritt said. The weapon was found in one of the suspect's backpacks. It was an air-soft pistol.

Merritt said two of the three are juveniles, the other is an adult. All three are enrolled at Everett High School.

Lansing police are finishing their report and will forward the case to the Ingham County Prosecutor's Office for review soon. Merritt said the incident was nothing to take lightly, especially in the wake of last week's school shooting in Newtown, Conn. that left 20 children and six adults dead.

"Some people may say, 'Oh, it was just a toy gun.' Well, it's not funny for law enforcement," Merritt said. "It's a very serious issue."

The suspects' intentions with the gun and why they were headed for Everett High School remain unknown to police, Merritt said.

"Whatever their intentions, they were nixed," he said. "The officers reall should be commended for their swift and quick response."